The 411 Top 5: Week 56

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 04.13.2007

The Top 5 Movie Sidekicks

So I was recently reading the news that Ray Winstone has apparently been cast as Indiana Jones' new sidekick in the fourth installment of the franchise, and my initial reaction was, "wait…what? Sidekick?!" I don't know about you, but after Winstone's recent turns in King Arthur, The Proposition, and The Departed (not to mention his upcoming leading role in Beowulf), I find myself fairly certain that it would take this guy all of about .0002 seconds to completely mop the floor with the now 100-year-old Harrison Ford. And he's gonna be the sidekick?

Of course, then I realized that just being the stronger or more intimidating of the two doesn't necessarily mean you can't be a sidekick, and this got me thinking of what makes a great sidekick. According to Wikipedia (and we all know that Wikipedia can always be trusted), a sidekick is "a stock character who assists a partner in a superior position." That sounds about right, if perhaps a tad too sexual. Still, probably the best way to consider what makes a sidekick is to look at some great examples. So I gathered together my loyal fellow 411 writers – or, as I like to think of them, my sidekicks (perhaps not how they think of themselves, but let's not quibble) – for:

THE TOP 5 MOVIE SIDEKICKS



Trevor Snyder

Honorable Mention:

Choda Boy (Dian Bachar) in Orgazmo

For two reasons. First, he's called "Choda Boy." Second, hamster style. ‘Nuff said.


5. Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) in Lethal Weapon 2 – 4

Just because Detectives Riggs and Murtaugh didn't want Getz as a sidekick, doesn't mean he doesn't count as one. Although Getz was initially just a witness the Lethal Weapon heroes were assigned to protect in the series' second film, he ultimately proved impossible to shake from their lives for the remaining movies. That was good news for us, the audience, as Getz added a lot of comic relief to an already funny series. But it was even better news for Riggs and Murtaugh – Getz may have gotten on their nerves, but he definitely came in handy. His absolute desire to be their buddy meant he would go along with just about anything (even including an unnecessary root canal) and, hell, he even offered Mel Gibson's Riggs some sage-like advice in Lethal Weapon 4 that finally helped the character come to peace with the death of his wife for the first time since the series began.

4. Donkey (Eddie Murphy) in the Shrek films

Shrek may be even more annoyed by Donkey on a regular basis than the Lethal Weapon guys are with Getz, but that doesn't make him any less valuable. Sure, he never shuts up, and yes, he never gives Shrek a moment of piece. But he's incredibly loyal and, perhaps most admirably, absolutely relishes his role of sidekick – so much so that he is actually offended when another character, Puss in Boots, starts to get a little too close to becoming Shrek's new sidekick.

3. Gromit in Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbitt

From a sidekick who never shuts up, to one who never says a word. Not that Gromit needs to utter a single syllable – his facial expressions and body language always convey just how he feels about having to deal with his master's odd inventions. Of course, you get the feeling that the duo might be better off if it was Gromit building the inventions – sure, he's a dog, but he's obviously the more intelligent and resourceful of the two. Plus, like Donkey, he's amazingly loyal – even though Wallace's inventions almost always backfire, Gromit wouldn't dream of abandoning his master even for a second. He's the kind of dog I think every guy would love to have.

2. Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) in Smith's Jersey "Trilogy"

I'm sure there are those out there who would argue that Jay is Silent Bob's sidekick, given that Bob is clearly the wiser of the two. But no one ever said smarts, or lack of, makes the sidekick. Of the two, Jay is the born leader – or, at least, Bob seems to think so. Wise else would he follow Jay and remain a loyal friend throughout all of Jay's stupid antics, not to mention put up with his constant verbal abuse. For Bob's best "sidekick moment," look no further than Dogma, when he comes to the aid of a physically attacked Jay while onboard the train. The look of pure anger on his face – not to mention his immediate response – when Jay gets knocked out says it all: no matter how stupid or annoying Jay may be, Silent Bob will always be there looking after him.

1. Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) in the Lord of the Rings trilogy

Sam was already one of literatures greatest sidekicks, but special attention must be given to Sean Astin's incredible performance of the character (how Astin was not nominated for an Oscar for Return of the King is beyond me). To me, Sam is pretty much the ultimate sidekick – although at first glance he appears somewhat simple – you might even think he's the least important member of the Fellowship of the Ring – he proves his worth time and time again, eventually becoming Frodo's most trusted and loyal companion, and there's no doubt that Frodo would not have survived or accomplished his mission without the aid of his best friend. In fact, while most people think of LOTR as mostly Frodo's tale, it starts to become more and more obvious in the third film that it is arguably Sam's tale – after all, Frodo eventually does give in to the power of the ring, and it is only Sam's persistence and ability to keep his master on the right path that gets them through it (Tolkien himself even once referred to Sam as the "chief hero" of the entire saga). The third film even ends with Sam, not Frodo – solidifying the fact that what we have just seen is the evolution of a sidekick to full-blown hero.



Owain J. Brimfield

Honourable mentions:

Bruno (Russell Dykstra in Garage Days), Gimli (John Rhys-Davies in The Lord of the Rings), and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith in the View Askew films)


5. Zeus Carver (Sam Jackson in Die Hard With a Vengeance)

"Zeus. As in father of Apollo? Mt. Olympus? Don't fuck with me or I'll shove a lightning bolt up your ass? Zeus!"

1992's The Last Boy Scout had already proved that "cynical Bruce Willis cop teams up with wisecracking black guy" was a surefire hit as a formula, and where better to take the idea than to the Die Hard series? For the first time McClane met his match in Zeus Carver, the baddest electrician you'll ever see on screen. The fantastic chemistry between Willis and Jackson makes this the most enjoyable movie the franchise has to offer. Despite it clocking in at almost 2:30, nothing seems to drag when McClane and Zeus are verbally sparring their way across NYC.

4. Peter Marwood (Paul McGann in Withnail and I)

"I have just narrowly avoided having a buggering, and have come in here with the express intention of wishing one upon you."

The ultimate reluctant sidekick, Marwood is dragged on a weekend outing to the country by his booze-addled actor friend Withnail. Along the way he narrowly avoids being beaten up by a drunken Irishman, tracked down by a poacher, gored by a bull, sodomised by Withnail's randy uncle and alternately freezing and starving to death - all the while watching Withnail get pissed as a fart. Throughout the ordeal he maintains a quiet dignity (if not always his composure), and there's redemption as finally, in a one of cinema's great bittersweet endings, Marwood gets the chance to outshine his compatriot and doesn't look back.

3. Walter Sobchack (John Goodman in The Big Lebowski)

"Do you see what happens? Do you see what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass?"

Just pure comedy gold. The Dude and Walter are two of the greatest comic creations of the 90s, with their passive/aggressive relationship resulting in classic scene after classic scene. Although the Dude's insouciant cool results in the more memorable character, it's Walter who steals the show, whether it be destroying a young kid's car with a crowbar or disposing of a friend's ashes in a wholly inappropriate manner. One of John Goodman's best performances.

2. Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew in Star Wars)

"Rrrrrraaawwwwrrrrr!"

The dude's an eight foot yeti with a blaster rifle, what more needs to be said?

1. Garth Algar (Dana Carvey in Wayne's World)

"Do you have any Megadeth?"

The Wayne's World movies really captured the teen zeitgeist of the early 90s, but while Mike Myers' Wayne was the focus, it was his timid buddy Garth who provided some of the best laughs. Easily the shyest sidekick on this list, Garth was universally identifiable for a generation, and despite being socially awkward he still has an unflappable cool. When praised for busting out an awesome drum solo in a music shop, Garth shrugs and simply replies "I like to play." Dana Carvey may have gone on to unleash such horrors as Master of Disguise on the world, but his portrayal of Garth will remain in comedy lore for a long, long time.



Dave Tomlinson

Honorable Mentions:

Franklin "Foggy" Nelson (Jon Favreau) in Daredevil

That's right, I liked this movie. Sue me. I especially like the directors cut when the Foggy character is given a lot more to do. His subplot with Coolio gives the flick a real sense of depth that some others (ok, most of the movie going public, including our fearless leader… Snyder, I'm looking in your direction) said it lacked. Philistines.

Priest (Richard Harris) in The Count of Monte Cristo

I debated about whether to even include Priest here. I don't know if he really qualifies as a sidekick, as he kind of walks the "mentor" line. But what the hell, it's my list. Richard Harris will go down in history, if nothing else, for bringing some great literary characters to life. Whether it's Priest or Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films, he gives all his characters a quiet dignity. His relationship with Dantes (he'll always be Jim to me Caviezel) is brief, but certainly important, so he makes my list.


5. Paul (Jeremy Piven) in Grosse Point Blank

A more cynical guy would make a crack about Jeremy Piven being John Cusacks go to guy as a sidekick. But I'm above such petty quips. Whoops. Seriously, I'm a big Piven fan, and I'd probably pay to watch him read the phone book, but he's just icing on the cake in this quirky dark comedy. How good of a sidekick is he? He doesn't even bat an eye when Martin (Cusack) asks him to help dispose of a body at their high school reunion.

4. Jeff (Nick Swardson) in Grandmas Boy

He has a race-car bed. He lives with his parents. He rules at Dance Dance Revolution. Swardson might as well just have a sign around his neck that says sidekick. I'm curious when he'll finally be given his due and get his own leading role, but for now, he knocks one of out the park as Alex's (Allen Covert) man-child buddy in this underrated flick. "Yeah, but it's a sweet fuckin' car." Classic.

3. Brodie/Banky (Jason Lee) in Mallrats, Chasing Amy

Before he became a bankable leading man (and go to guy for voice talent), Jason Lee made a career out playing snarky sidekicks in Kevin Smith movies. Some people claim that Jeff Anderson's Randal was the prototype, but I say he grew out of the sidekick role and became an equally important leading character. As for Jay and Bob, who's the sidekick to whom? Sorry, Brodie and Banky, they just have sidekick written all over them. And Lee nails it both times.

2. Merry & Pippin (Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd) in The Lord of the Rings trilogy

They're hardly the first literary sidekicks, though they may be the best. And their transition to the screen, like everything else in the Rings trilogy, is pitch-perfect. Impeccably cast, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan really flesh these characters out, and of course Peter Jackson certainly gives them their due, where a lesser director may have let them fall by the wayside.

1. C-3P0 and R2-D2 (Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker) in the Star Wars saga

I don't think anyone can argue that these two are, indeed, the quintessential movie sidekicks. They did it all, they provided comic relief when needed, moved the story along with important exposition, and of course had their own moment in the sun. Also, they have the distinct honor of being the only two characters to appear in all six movies as the same actors (if you can count that as acting).



Jason Chamberlain

Honorable Mentions:

Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Besides having quite possibly the best name in the history of cinema, Indiana's sidekick from his second adventure is just an awesome character. Come on. "No time for love Dr. Jones!" Need I say more?

5. Eli, in The Girl Next Door

The porn-loving friend of main character Matthew Kidman gets to live a dream vicariously when Matt starts dating the ex porn star that has moved in next door. When Eli isn't trolling the TV for hot chicks or forcing his friend Klitz to watch porn with him, he's at school barking out orders to his A/V club `minions` and dreaming of a career directing adult films. By the end of the movie he has created his calling card (a sex-ed video that flies off the shelves) and in so doing helped Matt get out of a financial bind and into the university of his choice. What more can you ask from a high school sidekick?

4. Hooper X, in Chasing Amy

Perhaps the best sidekick to come out of the Jersey Trilogy, Hooper X is a seemingly militant comic book artist who accuses the Star Wars trilogy of gentrification and rails against the evils of the white man in the pages of his comic ‘White Hating Coon'. He even shoots up a storm at a press conference promoting the book! But the whole thing's a sham; Hooper is actually an effeminate gay man who portrays himself as a Malcolm X type to sell more comics. But more than that, he's an insightful and compassionate guy who offers heartfelt advice to Holden McNeil at a key point in the film. It is Hooper who teaches Holden not to judge girlfriend Alyssa for her promiscuous past and to follow his heart, even though it takes Holden a while to absorb the lesson.

3. Q, in the James Bond Films

I can't talk about sidekicks without giving some props to the man who created gadget after gadget for the world's greatest secret agent. From cars with ejector seats to exploding pens and laser cutting watches, Q always gave Bond whatever he needed to spy in style. The late, great Desmond Llewelyn always brought humor and charm to the Bond flicks, from Connery to Brosnan. Maybe it's best that the new direction the series is going in precludes a Q character, because with apologies to John Cleese, there's only one Q!

2. Wang Chi, in Big Trouble in Little China

Yes, for the second week in a row I am going to pimp this movie! The great thing about Wang Chi is that he turns the whole concept of a sidekick on its ear. Unlike most side kicks, he doesn't need to be rescued, in fact he does the majority of the rescuing. When Jack Burton gets in over his head against a gang of warriors or knocks himself out, Wang is there with his kung fu skills to bail him out. He's also got a sharp wit and the courage to charge right into Lo Pan's den of evil to save the woman he loves. All that from a sidekick!

1. Han Solo, in Star Wars Episodes 4-6

Let's face it, Han Solo is just too cool for school. He's the guy who made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs! His best friend is a wookie! He shoots first and asks questions later (and you KNOW what I mean). In a world of mysticism he doesn't even believe in the force. All he needs is a trusty blaster and his wits to survive, even when the most dangerous crime lord in the galaxy wants him dead! And hey, any guy who'll fly his spaceship into an asteroid field just to fuck with the Imperial Navy gets respect from me.



Bryan Kristopowitz

Honorable Mentions

Hooch (Beasely the Dog) in Turner & Hooch (1989)

One of the most vulgar and disgusting canines in the history is also one of its most memorable. Hooch, the dirty, smelly, cookie eating and beer drinking brute that Detective Scott Turner (Tom Hanks) is left to take care of after Hooch's original owner, Amos, as played by John McIntire, is murdered by scumbag gun runners. I suppose one could say that a trained animal is just that, trained to be whatever the trainer wants it to be, but I think in the case of Hooch the dog's, shall we say, personality shines through, even in the scenes when we know the dog is doing as its told. Look at the scene where Hanks shows Hooch around his house, showing him the rooms he can't go in. Hooch is paying attention, at the same time planning what to destroy. If Hooch didn't have "that" look, Hanks could act his heart out and it wouldn't make a difference. It would be just some dog.

Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) in the Blade Trilogy (1998-2004)

As cool as Wesley Snipes is as Blade the Daywalker, we all know that the butt kicking vampire killer wouldn't be much without his armorer, mentor, and bestest buddy in the whole world, Abraham Whistler, as embodied by the great Kris Kristofferson. They don't act as a tandem, a tag-team, fighting side by side, but they don't have to. As we saw at the beginning of Blade II, Whistler is parts of Blade's inspiration. He's his only real friend in the world. And he's also the bearer of information for the audience. Blade doesn't speak all that much, so someone out there has to have the answers. That's what Whistler does. He provides the answers.

Jake Phillips (Louis Gossett, Jr.) in The Principal (1987)

He's the head of security for Brandel High School, and he's the man who will help new principal Rick Latimer (Jim Belushi) clean up the school. Jake Phillips is all about "No More." Although he isn't all that interested in getting "really" into it, because he knows that if he does decide to throw it down and throw it down hard with the punks and hoodlums he's gonna kill them. He eventually does get to do that, but only when Rick decides to break out the baseball bat and take the punks on with his motorcycle. Great stuff.


5. Frank (Keith David) in John Carpenter's They Live (1988)

Keith David is an excellent actor and is always good, even when the movie he's in is awful. Thankfully that's not the case here. I'm talking about the movie here, not David's performance. In They Live, David's "Frank" character helps Roddy Piper's John Nada expose the ongoing Republican alien conspiracy to the world. At first, Frank really doesn't want anything to do with Nada. Yes, Frank is angry about the world, about the economic inequalities and whatnot, but he's really not that interested in doing anything about it. He's walking the white line because he's got a wife and kid. But then Nada shows him, with the help of the special glasses, what's really going on. It's from that point on Frank and Nada take the "machine" down. He ends up sacrificing everything for his unseen family and his friend. And he gets to save the world.

4. Cabbie (Ernest Borgnine) in John Carpenter's Escape From New York (1981)

Borgnine's Cabbie only really interacts with Kurt Russell's Snake Plissken three times, but those three times are magic. You could see an extended movie of both of these guys taking a driving tour of the ruined New York City because they represent two very different things. Plissken is mean, nasty, all about himself and the business at hand. Cabbie is very happy go lucky, enjoying every minute in his favrotie town, even if he has to live there when it's a prison hellhole and he has to drive around in a fortified cab and throw Molotov cocktails out the roof hatch every now and then to keep from getting robbed. They compliment one another.

3. Shark (R.A. Mihailof) in Trancers III: Deth Lives (1992)

Mihailof is probably best known for his turn as Leatherface in Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. He's a big, beefy guy in make up. In Trancers III, Mihailof plays a cyborg warrior in the future, the last of his kind built to protect the Council from the Trancer army. We first see him travelling to the past so he can bring Trooper Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) to the future so Deth can then be sent to a later point in the past to kill Andrew Robinson's Col. Daddy Muthuh. It's all very confusing unless you actually see the movie. Anyway, Shark rescues Deth at the end from, well, death (great neck snap sequence here) and helps him take down the Trancer army created by Muthuh. And then at the end of the movie we're teased with a future team up in the next movie, which we don't get in Trancers 4: Jack of Swords. The quips between the two towards the beginning are great. It was a missed opportunity for the next movie not to have more.

2. Roger (Scott Reiniger) in Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Roger is the first guy in the foursome that takes over Monroeville Mall that really goes nutzoid and is corrupted by the place. He doesn't pay attention to what's going on around him, he puts his partner Peter (Ken Foree) in jeopardy, and he gets bitten for his trouble. But it's after that moment that Peter, the leader of the group, and Roger start to bond even more as they take out the rest of the zombies in the mall. It's not like they didn't bond on the helicopter ride there, or in JC Penney. But the bond is more important after he's bitten because we all know he's only got so much time before he dies and "comes back." Roger has to make his time with Peter count.

1. Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) in the Original Star Wars Trilogy (1977, 1980, 1983)

Chewbacca is the consumate best friend, pal. He's Han Solo's dog, basically (dogs are man's best friend, right?). And that's all there really is to say about him. He's always going to be there for Han. He loves him, cares for him, never wants to be away from him (I can't imagine what it was like for him when Solo was in carbonite). He's going to go down fighting with him no matter what.



Nick Wallander

Honorable Mentions:

Mr. Gibbs in Pirates of the Caribbean, Donkey in Shrek, and Bubba in Forrest Gump


5. Mini Me (Verne Troyer) in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Goldmember

Try to tell me that the entire premise of a half scale clone of Dr. Evil wasn't hysterical. The second Dr. Evil asks Mini Me if he wants a Hot Pocket was the second I decided that the little man was a great sidekick. Hell, he must have been great because more people know Verne Troyer by the name Mini Me than they do his real name. The character even played both sides as a sidekick. That is pretty significant right there.

4. Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan) in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

I am not even sure it made any sense as to why a little Asian guy was following Indiana Jones around in the first place, but it seemed to work. He helped get Indy out of a few tough spots throughout the course of the movie. Who did run around screaming "Docta Jones!" after watching this movie? I still do it sometimes. This character is a cultural icon, otherwise Sawyer wouldn't have used it as a nickname on Lost.

3. R2D2 in the Star Wars franchise

R2D2 gets a spot because of all the crap he put up with. First of all, his best friend was a prissy gold robot who wouldn't shut the hell up. I am fairly certain a lesser droid would have sent C3PO to the scrap yard before he could have even made it to Episode II. Also, he had to tag along with Anakin for a while. You can't tell me that it was a pleasant time listening to that prick pout all the time. It was probably like hanging out with an Emo kid who hates his parents. R2D2 was far from useless. He got Luke and Co. freed from that trash compacter and hell, he even did some good work with both Luke and Anakin during flight. R2D2 is another cultural icon that is featured on everything from clocks, toys, and even mailboxes. This is a character that only had to beep to get its point across. That, my friends, is an accomplishment.

2. The Channel Four News Team (Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner) of Anchorman

A Major plot point of the movie indicated that Ron Burgundy could not get the job done without his news team. That is where Champ Kind (Koechner), Brick Tamland (Carell), and Brian Fantana (Rudd) came into play. These guys made Will Ferrell all the funnier because of their zany and over the top personas. You had Champ Kind, the homoerotic, sexist sports anchor who wore a cowboy hat. Brick Tamland was the near retarded simpleton weather man in a role that made him a breakout star. Paul Rudd portrayed for us a smooth talking and dirty ladies man in Brian Fantana. Each one of these guys delivered their lines in a way that made them iconic and legendary movie quotes. Who doesn't love lamp because of these guys? You all know you shouted WHAMMY while dabbing on some Sex Panther. College towns were full of guys dressed in absurdly colored suits every Halloween since Anchorman was released. Why have one sidekick when you can have an entire team?

1. Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding (Morgan Freeman) in The Shawshank Redemption

Morgan Freeman is the shit all his own and then a role like this comes along and he totally owns it. There was not another man who could have played "Red" like Freeman did. In fact, I am going to say that the character wouldn't be on this list if Freeman didn't play him. What is not to respect about "Red"? He was the wise old man of the movie. He brought a level of sympathy that was more defined that any other prisoner in Shawshank . The fact of the matter was that his friendship and guidance was what got Andy through his time in that dirty hell hole. For as laid back and calm as the man seemed through that movie you could tell that if he wanted to kill you he could. It wouldn't even be a hassle for him.



Chad Webb

Honorable Mentions:

-- Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) in Waynes World I and II
-- Banky Edwards (Jason Lee) in Chasing Amy
-- Tuna (Ethan Suplee) in Blow

5. Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck) in Ferris Beuller's Day Off

As I browsed through my collection looking for adequate sidekicks, I was amazed that I had forgotten Alan Ruck's stellar performance as Cameron Frye. He was hilarious in almost every scene, and he is the main reason I own this film on DVD. The shot of him singing when he is sick in bed at the beginning is just spectacular. On top of that, the sub-plot involving his father (whom we never see) makes him the most interesting character in the film. Another wonderful scene occurs when he calls Principal Ed Rooney on the telephone. He was so believable as a kid that was agonizingly sick, but could not resist the influence Ferris had over him. This is arguably Ruck's most memorable role to this day, and without him, this John Hughes comedy classic would have never been the same.

4. Ishmael Boorg (Randy Quaid) in Kingpin

Generally, the script choices that Randy Quaid makes are horrible (in my opinion), but every now and then he can be seen in something that actually exposes the positive side of his comedic stylings. When he portrayed Ishmael Boorg in the Farrelly brothers' excellent comedy, he was spot-on as a clueless Amish boy coming to grips with a world he had never seen before. The scene of him taking a crap in the urinal is priceless. His acting is fine, but he supplies the laughter in the most odd, yet suitable moments. The hideous sight of his nipples after bending over in the freezer, planting his face in the breasts of a random audience member at the bowling tournament, and of course his strip tease are all reasons to love this character. He and Woody Harrelson made a superb combination, and if you haven't seen Quaid in this film, you need to soon.

3. Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley (Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) in the Harry Potter series.

This might not be the top selection for the 411 readers and staff, but in my opinion we should not ignore these two. They could have been split up for this list, and maybe Watson would have nudged out Grint, but as dual sidekicks they are terrific. I'm a big fan of this series, and the books for that matter, but what I like most is that the characters get more intriguing, grow more mature, and have stronger identities as the story goes on. They are both fantastic child actors, and obviously were perfect for the parts. I suppose another reason for naming them both is the romance between Hermione and Ron that always lurks beneath the surface. Ron is humorous, Hermione is smart, and together they fit splendidly as helpful sidekicks to Harry Potter.

2. Wilson the volleyball in Cast Away

Ok, this is definitely a bizarre choice, but who would argue that it is a bad one? It is amazing that a volleyball covered with the blood of Tom Hanks can be such a fascinating companion when of course, he has no lines. That blood does become a face with eyes and a mouth though. It is a testament to Hanks' talent that he causes a random volleyball to be such a fitting friend to this man who is stranded on an island. I often thought it was a fabulous touch from Director Robert Zemeckis that Hanks would talk to this volleyball as if it was someone living. If you had no where to go and no one to talk to, how would you pass the time? Besides having his own popularity due to Hanks belting "Wilson!" repeatedly, this ball is unquestionably a sidekick, an additional character to the plot, and deserves consideration for this list.

1. Paulie (Burt Young) in the Rocky franchise

Young has a fairly long resume, but no one remembers (hardly) any of his other roles except as Paulie in the Rocky movies. I really don't know how to explain why I put him as #1. Perhaps it is because we have watched these characters grow through the highs and lows, and they have become a part of our lives, as least most of our lives anyway. As he went from Adrian's mentally abusive brother, to one of Rocky's best friends and loyal assistants at ringside, Paulie was molded into a great character all of his own. He made us laugh, cry (maybe this is stretching), and angry. I love each of these films in their own special way, and while Paulie might not be the pick that instantly comes to mind, hopefully I reminded some of you, just how brilliant a sidekick he really was. On a side note, I kept thinking of more great sidekicks as I wrote this, but I'll stick with these picks.

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Wow, he's only been here three weeks, and already 411-newcomer Dave Tomlinson already feels the need to call me out. Well, allow me to respond to Mr. T's crack about my poor attitude towards Daredevil...I will never, and I mean never apologize for not being impressed by anything that features Coolio. Oh well, it's cool...Tomlinson can still be one of my sidekicks.

And speaking of sidekicks (which we've been doing, if you havent noticed), we're not off this kick yet. Next week we'll take a look at the Top 5 Television Sidekicks. See you for it in seven.